Our Services
We work with your team to build classrooms and cultures where every student is seen.
How We Partner
Pricing, program designs, and workshop samples are available upon request.
Coaching
Classroom-Based Coaching: Classroom-based coaching is designed around teacher need sand has immediate, measurable student impact. Demonstration teaching is included with post-lesson study.
Coaching for Coaches: Coaching for Coaches is designed to stimulate coaching- teacher relationships. Coaches learn a variety of coaching lenses to differentiate their coaching towards diverse teacher needs, improving teaching impact towards specific goals.
Executive Coaching: Executive Coaching is designed for school and district leaders to maximize teacher potential, communicate vision, and to extend the vision across the district and/or school.
Teacher Development Coaching: Teacher Development Coaching is an interpersonal experience designed to enhance content knowledge and grow pedagogical skills by leaning into decision-making, advocacy, and service to students. This work takes place in small groups or 1:1 conversations.
Thought Sanctuary: Thought Sanctuary is where TMC creates an interactive, ritualized space for school teams (e.g. school leadership team, departments, grade teams, and other groups)where educators come together to share stories and experiences that are part of the richness of their everyday teaching/learning lives. Thought Sanctuary cultivates a love of learning, deepens community, and works to re-ignite educational purpose. Here, well-being is associated with ideation and creativity; joy, curiosity, and research are honored, and flexible thinking is promoted.
Coaching for Coaches: Coaching for Coaches is designed to stimulate coaching- teacher relationships. Coaches learn a variety of coaching lenses to differentiate their coaching towards diverse teacher needs, improving teaching impact towards specific goals.
Executive Coaching: Executive Coaching is designed for school and district leaders to maximize teacher potential, communicate vision, and to extend the vision across the district and/or school.
Teacher Development Coaching: Teacher Development Coaching is an interpersonal experience designed to enhance content knowledge and grow pedagogical skills by leaning into decision-making, advocacy, and service to students. This work takes place in small groups or 1:1 conversations.
Thought Sanctuary: Thought Sanctuary is where TMC creates an interactive, ritualized space for school teams (e.g. school leadership team, departments, grade teams, and other groups)where educators come together to share stories and experiences that are part of the richness of their everyday teaching/learning lives. Thought Sanctuary cultivates a love of learning, deepens community, and works to re-ignite educational purpose. Here, well-being is associated with ideation and creativity; joy, curiosity, and research are honored, and flexible thinking is promoted.
Keynotes
We design interactive keynote experiences for groups as small as 25 to as large as 10,000! Each keynote experience is built around your organization’s mission and your conference’s theme. They are designed to engage your audience, grow their thinking, and ignite the work they do in their communities after the event.
Workshops
We design workshops that cater to the unique needs of your school community. Each workshop goes through a two-step developmental cycle where we meet with your team beforehand to identity school and community goals. From there, we design workshop outcomes to move your school data forward in terms of students achievement, teachers effectiveness.
We also offer pre-designed workshops that are aligned to state and federal expectations around literacy, classroom management, student growth and engagement, and standardized test readiness. Additionally, we offer workshops for inclusive education such as developing high-impact integrated co-teaching, creating accessible learning for students with varied needs, and strengthening special education departments.
We support schools in professional book studies of our books, Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools and/or We Got This: The Quest to Be Who Our Students Need us to Be and/or other books your school community chooses to engage with. Book studies include discussion, reflection, and implementation that changes teacher experience and deepens student learning.
We also offer pre-designed workshops that are aligned to state and federal expectations around literacy, classroom management, student growth and engagement, and standardized test readiness. Additionally, we offer workshops for inclusive education such as developing high-impact integrated co-teaching, creating accessible learning for students with varied needs, and strengthening special education departments.
We support schools in professional book studies of our books, Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools and/or We Got This: The Quest to Be Who Our Students Need us to Be and/or other books your school community chooses to engage with. Book studies include discussion, reflection, and implementation that changes teacher experience and deepens student learning.
Institutes
The Minor Collective designs and facilitates custom 2-4 day professional development experiences for your team. These experiences take into account school and district goals alongside current teacher capacity to move your school forward in measurable ways. Examples of past institutes include, but are not limited to: Instructional Design, Special Education and Integrated Co-Teaching, New Curricular Implementation, and New Staff Onboarding.
Curricular Clinics
Curricular clinics include in-depth curricular study to improve planning and classroom instruction. Teacher are given an opportunity to examine curriculum, students’ learning needs, and instructional strategies. The Minor Collective Curricular clinics grow teachers’ confidence and ease in using assigned curriculum.
Ongoing Partnerships
Our partnerships with schools last anywhere from three visits to multi-year studies. Each partnership considers school performance goals, teacher development goals, and student achievement data. Partnerships are designed to move all three in measurable ways through a variety of onsite study experiences.
Programming for Kids
Targeted support for kids we have yet to reach. We meet with small groups of kids in sessions designed to compliment the supports that they are already getting at school. This works in addition to their classes and their related services to cultivate a sense of belonging at school through leadership development, decision making, and improvisational fun.
Kass Minor beautifully blends scholarship, teacher activism, and her wealth of educational experiences to emphasize how we build and sustain a sense of connection and belonging in school communities out of love for youth and humanity.
Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera
Educator and Author of Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces that Center Humanity
Through practical tools and personal stories, Minor invokes a space of radical possibility, reminding us that our communities already hold the knowledge we need to transform teaching and learning.
Shane Safir
School Transformation Coach, Consultant and Author of The Listening Leader and Street Data
When I think about educators who are out there doing ‘the work,’ one of the first people who comes to mind is Kass Minor.
Liz Sohyeon Kleinrock
Author of Start Here Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community
I am giving a PD to my staff about increasing student engagement through questioning and discussion-any ideas are welcomed and appreciated :) Thank you for your patience, time, and dedication this past week. You guys rock!
Teacher
NYC
It was a pleasure meeting and learning from both of you. Thank you for all you do for children! The workshop was amazing because it provided jewels that can be added to development my pedagogy.
Teacher
NYC
I had a great time and also learned a lot. As a new teacher, I loved the mentorship from you guys.
Teacher
NYC
On behalf of the middle schoolers I learn with, Thank you! They love going outside to the park to play and explore. You and your friends and colleagues are the reason for their joy. The outdoor course was inspiring, validating, and replenishing. Thank you for all the support and understanding you showed to all participants. It meant a lot to me to hear you repeatedly recognize our humanity and that these are hard times.
Malai, Teacher
Tokyo, Japan
Kass Minor has an intellectual curiosity and truly generous spirit that is unmatched in the field of education. Her insight, commitment, and compassion for equity and justice are the cornerstones of every interaction she has with teachers, youth, families, and community organizers. I am beyond grateful to have collaborated with Kass for well over a decade: learning alongside her and puzzling through the most challenging of situations in the complex terrain of education. Kass is always a learner and is fierce in her willingness to show her vulnerability and fight for what is right for ALL youth and educators.
Britt Hamre, Ed.D., Lecturer, Inclusive Language Programs
Co-founder, Teachers College Inclusive Classrooms Project
When it comes to the interests of educators and when it comes to the interests of kids, Kass does not waver. I'm constantly awed by her unflinching and genuine commitment to prioritizing their interests in every situation. Knowledgeable and compassionate, Kass's willingness and ability to provide practical and relevant information in a heartfelt and meaningful way is unparalleled. She's a living utility belt equipped with the tools and instruments that educators, parents, and caregivers need to thrive in our constantly changing world and always looking for new ways to share them.
Phil Bildner, President and Founder
The Author Village
As a creator of children’s books, I can say that Kass is a very unique observer of this world. She has a way of seeing your words and art for exactly what they are, for understanding the meanings of your words and the nuances of your art in exactly the way you would hope they would be perceived. And then she takes that and builds on, finding connections to children’s needs as well as the teacher’s needs, in ways far beyond what one would have that possible from the book alone. It is the difference between reading a book and experiencing a book. Kass finds ways to do just that, and that ability is invaluable.
LeUyen Pham
Award Winning Author & Illustrator
Kass Minor has a powerful way of keeping equity, love, and reflection at the center of her work. She moves with integrity and a deep commitment affirming the humanity of all children. Whether it is through her publications or curriculum design, Kass pushes educators to examine their own beliefs, biases, and practices. She has extensive experience in nurturing partnerships among educators and school communities while navigating a range of lived experiences and perspectives.
Kisha Howell, Doctoral Candidate, Owner of Bold Hues
Teachers College, MA; Founder of The Harambee Collective
Cornelius shines a big bright light on how educators can bend culture, curriculum and methodology towards what is most consequential for kids. He reminds us that seeing our students in our work is a way of prioritizing equity.
Talya Edlund
2016 Maine Teacher of the Year
Working with Cornelius Minor has been like working with a close friend. Cornelius quickly assessed our district needs by practicing research-decide-teach to tailor his professional learning to meet district, school and most importantly student needs. He coached district and school personnel through a student-centered lens that allowed participants to go forth and put into practice research-based strategies and techniques. We are grateful for our partnership with Cornelius and look forward to continuing the collaboration for years to come.
Erica Bissell, Ed.D.
Coordinator of Reading and Language Arts
It has been an amazing time sharing with all of you; it was too short. Your willingness to not only hear us but to support us and provide new ideas in a world of uncertainty has been a saving grace. It is always amazing to hear and see that it is okay and necessary to step back and open the doors to being human and listening and just caring and with that we will be able to provide the support our students need and receive the support that we too need. In a time where we are all just in a world of constant flux, it was good to know that we would have another opportunity to get together again and learn and grow.
Amy, Teacher
NYC DOE
Thank you for bringing your light and care to us. As teachers we needed that level of empathy and care. I appreciate you both more than words could ever express. During this time, you have been my lifeline and I am forever grateful for your partnership and friendship.
Shirley, Teacher
NYC DOE
In the short time I’ve had with you Kass & Cornelius- I’ve learned & grown & been inspired by you in many ways. It is always refreshing to be in your company as you help remind us of what it means to be human - to see the value in that in ourselves & our students and how to approach the day as a teacher holding that awareness. It’s incredibly simple yet missing so often. I look forward to continuing a partnership. You are incredible!!
Heather, Teacher
NYC DOE
District 2 has had the honor of working in collaboration with The Minor Collective since the Spring of 2019 when Cornelius and Kass began leading a professional learning community, representing 12 schools across the district, committed to developing culturally responsive and sustaining practices through an collaborative inquiry approach. The student and family centered inquiry that The Minor Collective engaged our District leaders, teachers and school leaders in has improved the quality of our school equity teams, the practices implemented in our classrooms, the tools that our district has to interrogate and change inequitable practices and most importantly the experiences our students of color have in our schools. In addition, in one year we have seen a significant decrease in the number of Special Education referrals in the schools that have been working with the Minor Collective and we are thrilled to continue our partnership.
District 2 Leadership Team
NYC DOE
Cornelius and Kassandra Minor have become a part of our Noblesville community. Over the past 4 years, we have worked closely with Cornelius. He has stood by our side for district strategic planning, professional learning for staff, student learning, and community conversations. Corn is responsive to our needs as we share the latest issues and successes in our literacy and equity work. His heart and passion come through during each visit and he leaves us with sustainable energy and actionable steps. We have grown tremendously because of his influence and will continue to grow as we strive for our community to be a place where everyone is valued, seen and heard. Kass has supported Cornelius while he is here and has provided responsive professional learning for our staff in the summer. This is a couple that I wish I could be a fly on the wall during their ongoing conversations at home. They are a powerful duo out to change the landscape of education where children have a voice and are at the center of every decision. In my 20 years of education, this partnership has had the most positive impact and return on investment ever. Everyone needs a Cornelius and Kass in their community.
Jennifer Wheat Townsend, Ph.D., Director of Learning
Noblesville Diversity Coalition (NDC), Learning Officer
Working with The Minor Collective has been a transformative experience for our school community. We’ve been able to build capacity within our equity team, revise curriculum using an anti-racist lens, have courageous conversations with our staff, families and students about race, racism and oppression, do a deep inventory into our school policies to address biases and structures that have created harm and disproportionately. They have supported us in doing really brave, hard work and have been very compassionate and patient along the way. They show up with a ton of passion, insight and resources while ensuring all voices are heard. One of the most impactful experiences we’ve had with The Minor Collective is the work in classrooms and teacher inquiry groups. They model instructional practices that bridge the gap between theory and practice. They truly tailor the experience to meet the needs of individual school communities. We so appreciate them and hope to continue this work as partners in the years to come.
Nicole Lanzillotto, Principal
Boerum Hill School for International Studies, D15, NYC DOE
Cornelius and Kass, Thank you so much for being part of our opening day. The feedback has been so exciting. Our educators not only heard but were inspired by your messages. Your ability to take the theories, research and philosophies and make them tangible and transferable for each educator in their role is exactly what we needed.
Superintendent
Central Berkshire Regional School District
Cornelius, Thank you so much for your work with our ZCS team (and the middle school in particular) to kick off our year. What a tremendous way to frame our work for 2019-20. You engaged our team and excited us about our work for kids...I look forward to what will happen this year for our kids and school because of your focus for us.
Principal, Middle School
Indiana
I appreciated the classroom experiences, and especially in learning about how Cornelius approaches these lessons- the breakdown of how he plans with the lesson standard/objective in mind and considers what barriers there may be in order to make the learning accessible for all students.
Laura Maruska, Teacher
NYC Public Schools
What a great opportunity to gather with other teachers sharing and creating new ideas.
Narelle Lopez, Teacher
NYC Public Schools
I loved the community that was created with a variety of perspectives and experiences.
Sherry Ward, Teacher
NYC Public Schools
I love the classroom visits with with Cornelius. The way he engages with the student at the onset of the lessons to create connection and comfort, preparing them to be open to learning what ever he brings. I love that he is able to regroup his lesson to meet the need of the children , where they were, as far as receiving the lesson. He's able to pivot in real time.
Charmaine Thomas, Teacher
NYC Public Schools
Thank you for your thoughtful facilitation. I left each day feeling so full (in a good way) and I left the week, wishing that there was a part 2! Everything we discussed resonated with me and got me pumped up for the new school year. Thank you. I had two rough school years, and being in a room with like-minded educators and getting to really think about my pedagogy and practices felt like a breath of fresh air.
Teacher
NYC
Thank you so much! I had such an incredible experience working with you both and the educators in the room! I always find myself reinvigorated for wearing the many hats of an educator after spending time with the Minors!
Teacher
NYC
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